CORINTH - A number of ideas and strategies to keep Alcorn County students in school through graduation were proposed and discussed in a dropout prevention forum this week.

Two dozen or so teachers, administrators and counselors largely made up attendance at the event to which officials made an effort to draw representation from the community.

Despite minimal community participation, however, those present offered suggestions that will be considered for a new dropout prevention plan.

Superintendent Stacy Suggs said the goal is to present a new plan to the school board at the regular November meeting, and that they'll review it before adopting it at the December meeting.

Measures already in place in current dropout prevention strategies include:

* Introducing block scheduling through which students can earn up to eight credits per semester.

* Using a uniform grading policy districtwide with defined class work, homework, quizzes and tests outlined.

* Having a policy in place to allow students who are failing a course a chance to receive remedial help and retake tests to recover the credit.

* Offering an early graduation option to eligible students.

* Implementing an after school tutoring program.

* Acquiring grant funding to institute a mentoring program.

Van Carpenter, GED program and dropout prevention coordinator, said the in-school GED program graduated 13 students last year, which has proved to be an effective option.

Some of the suggestions to implement in the coming year include:

* Beginning specific dropout prevention programs at the middle school level.

* Offering GED classes on the student's home campus rather than having the student go to a different campus for GED classes.

* Increasing teacher involvement with students for meaningful adult-student interactions.

* Principals using resources on their campuses to provide whatever remedial help to students that they can.

lena.mitchell@journalinc.com